It was raining in the sky, but that didn't affect the crowds at Tokyo Racecourse in the slightest.
"The household-name sporting event, the Shining Series!"
"I am Akasaka, acting as the live broadcaster, and the Commentator is Ms. Hosoe."
"Please take care of us."
You two again.
Gold Legend stayed quietly backstage at the Paddock, listening to the Commentator's speech.
"Today's main event is the Japanese Derby. Because of the overwhelming popularity, Tokyo Racecourse has already started limiting the number of entries."
"Considering many fans cannot reach the venue, the grand occasion at Tokyo Racecourse is now being broadcast to the whole world!"
Emmmm, high popularity? Not really, right?
"The last to appear is the first favorite, number five, Gold Legend!"
Hearing her name, Gold Legend walked onto the stage.
Because there was nothing to swing, Gold Legend could only awkwardly greet the audience.
She was met with a roar of cheers that crashed over her like a tsunami.
"Ah, this..."
Gold Legend almost fled the stage.
Walking in the backstage corridor, Gold Legend was puzzled.
Am I that popular?
"Hey, hey, the race is about to start, what are you thinking about?" It was the Trainer's voice.
Gold Legend looked up.
The entire Spica team was standing in front.
"... Oh my, why are you waiting for me here today?"
Don't you usually stay in the audience seats?
"What are you talking about, Legend? Today is the Derby, the Derby! What do you think you're doing!" Tokai Teio said with some dissatisfaction.
"You really are composed, Legend-san." Mejiro McQueen chimed in.
"Are you really okay? You don't look very energetic, Legend-san." Special Week asked with concern.
"Ah, I'm fine, just thinking about a question."
"What are you thinking about when you're about to go on stage?" The Trainer interrupted and asked.
"Is my popularity really that high?" Gold Legend asked frankly.
"... What kind of stupid thing are you saying?" The Trainer asked back in surprise.
The team members also had expressions of astonishment.
"Look, just now on the Paddock stage, everyone looked so excited when they saw me, but I don't usually encounter fan events like this."
"I don't think anyone would associate a slacker, neurotic Uma Musume with the current racecourse socialite." Gold Ship complained.
Then she was punished with a gut punch by Gold Legend.
"Legend-san looks very different right now compared to usual." Suzuka smiled and remarked.
"... You're lying." Gold Legend tried to imitate Suzuka's words.
"I can only say Uma Musume rely on their attire." The Trainer joked.
"Tch." Gold Legend clicked her tongue, "Alright, I'm off."
"Good luck! Good luck!" x7
"Remember to give me a discount if you win!" by Trainer.
Gold Legend didn't look back, just waved her hand in response.
...
"The Japanese Derby, the most watched hurdle of the classic three crowns."
"In Japan's long horse racing history, countless Uma Musume have stopped here."
"Can Gold Legend continue to write the undefeated Legend and keep going? Let's wait and see!"
The Commentator's voice echoed throughout the racecourse.
"What terrifying popularity." Symboli Rudolf stood in the audience, looking at the track below.
"After all, she is the second child to make it here undefeated since you." Mr. C.B. leaned over with a grin.
"And Legend-chan is top-tier in every aspect, whether it's strength or appearance. It would be strange if she weren't eye-catching." Maruzensky added.
"That's true. However, I didn't expect you all to come too." Symboli Rudolf turned to look at the side.
"Well, after all, it's a junior's race, seniors can't be absent." Tamamo Cross explained, as Oguri Cap was busy eating at full power and couldn't step up.
"Greetings, President." Mejiro Ardan brought Yaeno Muteki and Sakura Chiyono O to say hello.
"... This really is a rare combination." Symboli Rudolf sighed.
"Little Chiyo, come to big sister!" Maruzensky greeted enthusiastically.
"So that is Gold Legend, the Uma Musume that even Master praises endlessly." Yaeno Muteki expressed her thoughts.
"... Why are you using the tone of meeting for the first time? Didn't you meet last time?" Tamamo Cross said strangely.
"Huh?" Yaeno Muteki turned into a fox face.
"It was the gathering after Oguri's Arima Kinen, that golden Uma Musume."
"... Really?" Yaeno Muteki, remembering something, said in surprise, "It's completely different, although both are very beautiful."
"There's no difference, aren't they both Legend-san?" Ardan didn't understand Yaeno Muteki's surprise.
"That's right, that child is still as beautiful as ever." Sakura Chiyono O interjected while messing around with Maruzensky.
"... Even you, Chiyo!" Yaeno Muteki looked as if she was the only one who didn't get it.
"Well, that child is indeed a completely different person once she gets serious. But for some reason, I always feel like something is different." Mr. C.B. tilted her head.
"You think so too? Senior Chiaki." Symboli Rudolf asked.
"Well, well, you're too sensitive. It's true that you all analyze Legend-chan's races like this, but it's not like Legend-chan could have improved again, right?"
It's really hard!
Maruzensky teased Chiyono O, complaining about the two Triple Crown Uma Musume's feelings.
"That's true, the next step isn't something that can just... hmm, but I always feel Legend can bring us surprises." Rudolf nodded.
"...Today's Legend is very clear." After finishing her yakisoba, Oguri Cap shivered. "A chillingly pure aura!"
"Even you say so?" Rudolf asked in surprise.
"It seems today's race won't be boring." Mr. C.B. concluded.
"Too bad, Brian and Air Groove can't make it," Maruzensky said regretfully.
"You two, can't you be a little more self-aware?"
Don't you two know why they can't come?
Rudolf rarely complained.
"...Rudolf, you're also an accomplice." Maruzensky looked away guiltily.
"Exactly, exactly." Mr. C.B. nodded in agreement.
"I'm on a legitimate vacation," Rudolf said calmly.
"Well, well, let's watch the race, watch the race!"
"It's starting, it's starting!"
The two relatively self-aware Uma Musume changed the subject... "All Uma Musume have successfully entered the starting gate."
"Last is Gold Legend, she entered the gate very calmly."
Gold Legend stayed in the starting gate, looking composed.
Unconsciously, she had grown accustomed to the environment of the starting gate.
Legend thought with emotion.
"The Tokyo Racecourse track is vast, and the curves are not sharp, so even pushing from the outside is not a disadvantage. However, one thing to note is that the final straight is sloped; if you can't break away from the pack before then, it's easy to stumble."
A clear loli voice.
"However, that's not something we need to consider."
A glamorous older sister voice.
"Got it, just accelerate and shake them off on the final straight, right?"
Legend, who had grown accustomed to this somewhat schizophrenic situation, summarized calmly.
"Roughly, yes." The loli voice, [Feather], responded.
"By the way, are we not doing the Great Escape this time?" The older sister voice, [Flower], asked.
"Heroes don't run away! This time, I'm going to win beautifully!" Legend shivered, getting a little excited.
"…"
I think crushing opponents at the very end is more like a villain than being overwhelmed by a Great Escape.
[Flower] thought about it but decided not to comment.
"It's about to start." [Feather] reminded.
The atmosphere quieted, with only the rustling of rain.
"Clang!"
The gates opened, and the race began.
..."It's like this from the start. As expected, position five isn't a good spot for Legend." The Trainer watched the encirclement forming right after the start.
"After all, Legend-san's performance in the Satsuki Sho was enough to provoke this." McQueen frowned. "Even I would probably make the same choice."
"If they don't trap Legend, once she starts to escape, they'll have no chance of winning." Teio twitched her ears.
"However, Legend-san isn't flustered at all." Suzuka swayed uneasily.
"How amazing, Legend-san." Special Week didn't actually understand the situation.
"Hey, aren't you going to say something?" Vodka nudged Gold Ship, who was playing with a Rubik's Cube, with her elbow.
"For our Gold Family, this is probably normal." Gold Ship rolled her eyes.
Daiwa Scarlet blinked: "Normal situation?"
"No one in the Gold Family ever ran a Great Escape before Oba-chan." Gold Ship said calmly... "Current position, one, two, three... thirteenth place?"
Although the heavy rain made visibility very poor, it didn't affect Gold Legend's perception.
The several Uma Musume in front were almost in a line, and the inner left side was also blocked.
Footsteps could be heard from behind.
So that's it, an encirclement? This seems to be the second time.
Are they really that afraid of me escaping?
But truly worthy of G1-class Uma Musume. It's completely different from last time.
Gold Legend thought calmly.
Is this your struggle for victory?
Very spirited.
The corners of her mouth curved into a rather dangerous arc.
A little too excited, it's not time to exert herself yet.
Legend quietly lay in wait... "Is Legend's situation a bit different from last time?" Mr. C.B. asked, tilting her head.
"Don't you feel Legend's domain?" Oguri Cap also tilted her head.
"Didn't Legend always have her domain open? Even the audience could clearly feel the pressure of her domain. Why is it so quiet this time?" Maruzensky also wondered.
"Is she hungry?" Tamamo Cross also unconsciously tilted her head.
Chiyono O flicked her tail and tilted her head along with them.
"Uh, perhaps Legend-san has her own ideas." Ardan said, barely suppressing a smile.
She wanted to complain.
Looking at the row of head-tilting Uma Musume in front of her, Yaeno Muteki struggled to maintain her expression.
"How strange, is she brewing something?" Rudolf was also puzzled.
"Let's just keep watching." Chiyono shrugged indifferently... It was the third turn, and Legend entered the curve calmly.
It's almost time.
She exhaled, then inhaled again.
Gold Legend calmly adjusted her breathing.
It didn't matter if it took a little more effort; she subtly adjusted her position.
At this point, the Uma Musume didn't have the extra energy to notice Legend's small movements.
How impressive, the encirclement hasn't deformed much even at this stage.
Gold Legend smiled.
"Past the fourth turn, Gold Legend is in 7th, 6th place!"
The commentator's voice.
Oh, it's time to accelerate.
When?
Ignoring the shocked gazes of the Uma Musume beside her, Legend began to build up her leg strength.
Hmm, the outer turf is clean, and there's no one ahead.
From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the excited black Little Uma Musume.
"Heh, a hero doesn't lose. Yosh! Let's charge at once."
Her domain fully unfurled.
In an instant, the world seemed to halt.
"Come, this is the gift I've chosen for you, its name is Despair!"
[Sparks bloom, Legend descends]
"Here she comes! Gold Legend is catching up from the outside!" The commentator's voice was filled with passion. "The Uma Musume ahead of her are also trying, but Gold Legend is unstoppable!"
The muddy track could not stop Legend's steps.
Just as raindrops cannot stop overflowing brilliance.
"Gold Legend is overtaking! Overtaking non-stop!"
"Too strong! No one can catch her now! Second place has been left far behind!"
"Finish line! Gold Legend successfully conquered the other 17 Uma Musume, taking the victory in the Japanese Derby!"
"6 races, 6 wins! Gold Legend!"
Oh, it seems I didn't hear No Way's voice, what a pity.
Legend thought easily, raising two fingers towards the audience.
The entire stadium cheered Legend's name.
"...This is completely a villain."
"Don't say such things out loud."
Sensing the scene outside, [Flower] and [Feather] silently complained.
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